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News | Minnesota Vikings – vikings.com

Snap Counts: Thielen Plays 23 Snaps in Return from Injury

EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings are 7-8 following a Week 16 loss to the Rams.

Minnesota fell from its playoff spot and will now need a pair of wins (and some help) to get into the postseason.

Here's a look at Minnesota's snap counts in Week 16:

— Kirk Cousins and the Vikings offensive line played all 63 offensive snaps against the Rams. The unit, from left to right, of Christian Darrisaw, Ezra Cleveland, Garrett Bradbury, Olisaemeka Udoh and Brian O'Neill played together for the third time this season.

— Justin Jefferson (61 snaps) played nearly the full game while setting a record for the most receiving yards (2,851) through a player's first two seasons in the league. Adam Thielen played 23 snaps in his return after missing two games with an ankle injury. K.J. Osborn played 50 snaps and had five catches for 68 yards and a score. Dede Westbrook played 27 snaps at the wide receiver spot.

— Alexander Mattison played 47 snaps and had a rushing touchdown. Fullback C.J. Ham played 20 snaps, and Kene Nwangwu was on the field for a dozen offensive plays.

— Tyler Conklin played 61 offensive snaps, catching four passes for 44 yards. Chris Herndon played six snaps, and Luke Stocker was on the field for four snaps. Neither had a reception.

— Blake Brandel was on the field for three snaps as an extra lineman, and Dan Chisena played one snap at wide receiver.

— Defensively, the Vikings had four players — Xavier Woods, Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr and Cameron Dantzler — who were on the field for all 70 snaps. Barr recorded a pair of interceptions to move his career total to five.

— Patrick Peterson (69 snaps) and Harrison Smith (68 snaps) each just missed playing the full game. Both briefly left the game after getting dinged up but returned quickly.

View game action photos between the Vikings and Rams during the Week 16 matchup at U.S. Bank Stadium.

— Mackensie Alexander played 52 snaps as the third cornerback, and Kris Boyd got in for 10 snaps on defense.

— D.J. Wonnum (65 snaps) played the most snaps among Minnesota's defensive linemen. Sheldon Richardson played 61 snaps a defensive end, while Patrick Jones II (13 snaps) and Tashawn Bower (seven snaps) also saw time as defensive end.

— Dalvin Tomlinson (42 snaps) and Michael Pierce (38) started up front at defensive tackle. Armon Watts played 30 snaps on the interior, and James Lynch was on the field for 15 snaps.

— Camryn Bynum played 10 total snaps at safety, with Nick Vigil on the field for nine snaps at linebacker. Harrison Hand got on the field for a single snap on defense.

— Blake Lynch led the way with 26 snaps on special teams. Vigil played 23 snaps in that phase, with Chisena, Troy Dye and Josh Metellus each playing 20 snaps on special teams.

— Stocker and Boyd (19 snaps apiece), Ham (16 snaps) and Bynum (15 snaps) were among those that played double-digit snaps on special teams.

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